Praise for McSally:

At Mesa rally, president says the lawmaker is “a great woman” who will protect jobs.

An enthusiastic Gov. Doug Ducey briefly took the microphone at the President’s Friday rally to offer his strongest endorsement of Trump yet, crediting him with “how far we’ve come as a state and a country.”

“Two years ago, families and small businesses were getting crushed,” Ducey said. He had traded his typically reserved demeanor for a fired-up growl, matching the volume and fervor of the crowd.

“Today, under President Trump, our economy booming, thanks to historic tax reform,” he said. “

Washington was on a regulation binge, destroying jobs and killing innovations. President Trump is wiping away useless regulations and has set the American economy free.”

Ducey also praised the president for putting “public safety first” and “securing our southern border.”

He paused to slam the Democratic challenger in his own gubernatorial race, David Garcia, as weak on border security. Garcia has said he wants to see sensible and humane immigration reform.

In contrast, Ducey applauded the military service of Rep. Martha McSally, the U.S. congresswoman currently locked in a tense battle with Rep. Kyrsten Sinema for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Jeff Flake.

“She’s been fighting for her country her entire life,” Ducey said. “Who better to send back to D.C. to straighten out those politicians than a fighter pilot?”

The governor also offered a full-throated endorsement of Trump-appointed Supreme Court justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, saying that former President Barack Obama’s tenure had been marked by “activist judges.”

He did not comment on the controversy surrounding Kavanaugh’s confirmation.

In closing, the governor said Arizona Republicans have a “great ticket” this year, mentioning secretary of state candidate Steve Gaynor, state treasurer candidate Kimberly Yee and state superintendent candidate Frank Riggs. But he said the party’s success on Nov. 6 depends on voters like those in the audience, who must “outwork” and “outvote” the left.

“We can’t do this without you,” Ducey said. “We can’t take anything for granted in this election cycle.”

The governor’s Friday comments marked a dramatic shift in tone from the early days of Trump’s candidacy when Ducey did not personally welcome or meet with the presidential hopeful during an Arizona visit.

After Trump won the Republican nomination, Ducey walked the precarious tightrope between conservatives who fervently backed Trump and others who found him too extreme.

The governor has forged a closer, more public relationship with the president this year. is